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The Week in Art: Lia Chavez’s Stunning Light Performance and the LongHouse Gala

By Sarah Cascone

Though it may seem that Armory Week and Frieze Week get all the action, the reality is that there is never a dull moment in the New York art world. From the East Side to the West Side (and, in the summer, out on Long Island’s East End), there’s always something happening at the city’s museums, galleries, and various event spaces. This week was no exception. LongHouse Serious Moonlight Party at LongHouse Reserve, East Hampton LongHouse Reserve took its “Serious Moonlight” theme seriously at its annual summer gala on July 23, instructing guests, who included child actor Fred Savage, media mogul Martha Stewart, and artists Eric Fischl, Cindy Sherman, and Alice Aycock, to dress in “night sky and silver” and be prepared for “interstellar garden happenings.”

After performances from contemporary classical music composer Nico Muhly and dancers from NYU, led by Em Watson, the LongHouse Creative Scholarship award winner, attendees enjoyed dinner, with a menu composed by acclaimed California chef Alice Waters. A techno-infused David Bowie tribute from Nona Hendryx, followed by dancing to the tunes of DJ Donna D’Cruz, rounded out the festivities. NADA Summer BBQ at the Abrons Arts Center Dozens of art dealers gathered in the Abrons courtyard on New York’s Lower East Side on July 27 at a barbecue thrown by the New Art Dealers Alliance, which organizes the NADA art fairs in New York and Miami. Despite heat and humidity, gallerists like Bridget Donahue (one of artnet News’ Most Respected US Contemporary Art Dealers of 2015), Bill Powers, Gabrielle Giattino, Photios Giovanis, and many more came together for pulled-pork sandwiches and cocktails under the shade of some merciful trees.

Lia Chavez’s performance of “Light Body” at the farm of Isabella Rossellini, July 23, 2016 Part of the draw to Lia Chavez’s performance the evening of July 23 was the location: The site-specific work was commissioned by actress Isabella Rossellini as the first of “a summer series showcasing some of today’s most celebrated contemporary artists” taking place at the Blue Velvet star’s Long Island farm. But the performance itself was more than worth the trip, as Chavez herself and two dancers (Troy Ogilvie and Djassi daCosta Johnson) moved through the woods in a dream-like choreography that involved whirling wands studded with multicolored lights. Designer Mary Katrantzou was responsible for the costumes, making for a truly enchanted evening.

B&O Play Launches the Future Series at Aska, Brooklyn Actress Zoe Kravitz, singer Okay Kaya, artist Cleo Wade, and JiaJia Fei, director of digital of New York’s Jewish Museum, headed to Brooklyn on July 23 as headphone producers B&O Play unveiled their new arts intiative, the Future Series. B&O is partnering on the new project with Greenpoint, Brooklyn, design center A/D/O. Brooklyn-based artist Jason Krugman‘s LED artwork, which will be included in the Future Series’ first project, a three-part performance and exhibition series called “THE NEW WAVE,” served as a backdrop for the evening, along with a custom soundscape by Kris Bowers. The night’s highlight was an 11-course dinner from Michelin-starred chef Fredrik Berselius, who will soon debut the Brooklyn outpost of his restaurant Aska.